Species Account

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Distribution

 
 

Summary Data

Season (Adult / Immature):

National Status: Common

Local Status: Fairly common and thinly distributed or restricted resident.

Local Record: Grade 1   See here for explanation

Flight time: One generation, Sep-Nov.

Forewing: 17-20mm

Foodplant: Monterey Cypress, Lawson's Cypress, Leyland Cypress, Juniper

Regional breakdown:

 VC61VC62VC63VC64VC65
Year first recorded19001991190019911999
Year last recorded20142014201420142014
Number of records118295113681311248
Number of individuals1647276831713718417
Unique positions6133678216
Unique locations6136688214
Adult records118095113351244248
Immature records20000

For the county, we have a total of 5060 records from 261 sites. First recorded in 1900.
 

Photos

2240 Blair's Shoulder-knot 04
© Nick Lawman
2240 Blair's Shoulder-knot 03
© Andy Nunn
2240 Blair's Shoulder-knot 02 right and Grey
© Barry Spence, 23 Oct 2004
2240 Blair's Shoulder-knot 01
© Charles Fletcher, 27 Sep 2005

Species Account

Beaumont, 2002: This spreading species arrived in Yorkshire in the early 1990s and has since spread rapidly. In the south of the County it is now one of the most common autumnal moths.

VC61. South Cave, four 6-11.10.1991, ten 1992, four 1993 (DBC); Spurn, 30.9 & 11.10.1994 with small numbers annually since (BRS); Cottingham, autumn 1992, then annually (PAC); Holme-on-Spalding Moor, 1.11.1994, common annually since (EDC); Rudston, annual since 1995 (ASE); Filey, 1996, several October 2000 (per DBk); Tophill Low, 1.10.1998 (PAC); Atwick, 8.10.2000 (WFC). NEW COUNTY RECORD.

VC62. Hutton Rudby, 1996 and subsequently (GWF); Great Ayton, 1997 (PW); Burnholme, York, 12.10.1998 (MRB); Grosmont, 13.10.1998, 21.10.2000 (WN). NEW VICE-COUNTY RECORD.

VC63. Rossington, 12.10.1992, then annually, now common (RIH); West Melton, three 14420.10.1995, common in subsequent years (HEB); Canklow, late 10.1995, then annually (RFB); Mirfield, 26.9.1997, then annually and commonly in 1999 & 2000 (MST); Baildon, 26.9.1997 (AGG); Wintersett Country Park, three 2-7.10.1997, small numbers most years since (PS m, PM et. at); Wheatley, Doncaster, 10.10.1999 (SH); Elland, five 10-21.10.1999, eight . 6.11.2000 (PT); West Ardsley, several September 2000 (JM); Bradway, Sheffield, 29.9915.10.2000 (PH). NEW VICE-COUNTY RECORD.

VC64. Cawood, three 26-30.9.1994 (JP); Burley-in-Wharfedale, 26.9.1996 (FCD); Birstwith, 12.10.1996 (MBa); Harrogate, 14.10.1996 (LVR); Grassington, 26.10.1996 (MRB); Headingley, Leeds, 1997 (JBo). NEW VICE-COUNTY RECORD.

VC65. Hutton Conyers, 24 between 3-13.10.1999, 18 between 29.9-8.11.2000 (CHF). NEW VICE-COUNTY RECORD.

2012 (CHF): This species has continued to spread and can now be found as far north as southern Scotland. Numbers climbed until 2006 and have been stable since. It can be found anwhere in the autumn where Leyland Cypress is planted and can be locally common especially in gardens eg 31 at Mirfield on 13.10.2001.
 

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